Dr. Samuel B. Holder, DDS
April 15, 1938 ~ September 4, 2021
Dr. Samuel Boyd Holder, 83, of Sonora, Texas, died of natural causes on the morning of September 4, 2021. Sam was the first son born on April 15, 1938 in Clarksville,Texas to Samuel R. and Lucy Holder. He grew up in Rosalie, Texas, on a dairy farm. He raised minnows to sell with Bob, his younger brother. He had 4H award winning calves, grew pine trees on 2 acres of the farm for a 4H project and helped out on the farm. He was baptized at the Rosalie Baptist Church as a teen. Sam was treasurer at the time of his graduation from Bogata High School and attended Paris Junior College earning an Associate in Arts degree. He then attended the University of Houston and was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Honors Society until he was accepted into dental school. He obtained a license at Herman Hospital School of Technology and became a lab technician and phlebotomist while attending Dental School. Sam attended The University of Texas Dental School Houston as a member of Omicron Kappa Epsilon Honor Society and graduated with honors in 1964. After graduating from dental school, he became a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force Dental Corp as a Captain. Once his Air Force commitment was over in 1966, he moved his family to Linden, Texas. Opening his dental practice in Linden with the help of B.B. Boon in 1966, he also had in the back of the office, Glenda’s Tropical Fish business until he moved out of this office space. He moved from his original dental office from Main Street to Houston Street in 1972 and practice dentistry for a total 39 years. Sam was the President of the 1st District Dental Association, a member of the Land O’ Pines Dental Study Club, a member Texarkana Dental Society, as well as, many other dental associations. He loved all aspects of dentistry but a stroke prevented him from practicing longer. Active in the Linden community, he was the president of the Linden Round Up Club Rodeo Association. He was a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician, the on call dentist at Linden Hospital and a Hospital Board member. He served as a City Councilman, a City Commissioner and as the Mayor of Linden. He was a member of the Lions Club, served as the secretary of the Cass County Landowners Association and was on the Cass County Appraisal Board. He also served as the Vice Chair of the Caddo Area Council of the Boy Scouts. A Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at the First Baptist Church, he was also a Baptist Youth Sponsor. He volunteered to organize, drive and chaperone many church trips. He often had catfish (fresh from his catfish ponds) fries for his Sunday School Class. Sam bought a farm and raised cows for years until his children were about to leave for college then decided to sell the cows and have his kids help plant pine trees. As a conservationist, he was a member of the Texas Forestry Association. He and his children won the Texas Tree Farmer Award, the Award of Merit Tree Farm Award for the Northern Zone and a Fort Worth Telegram Award for tree farming. He ran a greenhouse, Glenda’s Plants and Flowers, selling his plants to support his hobby.An avid outdoorsman, Sam loved to fish and hunt. He would go bass fishing often and had trophy fish hanging on his wall to prove his skill. Quail and pheasants were his hunting preferences. Sam was a certified welder and heavy equipment operator. These were some of his farm hobbies when he could not do dentistry anymore. He would often take his grandkids on his tractors, dozer or backhoe for a drive or to dig a hole. They also got to learn to drive a stick shift, play in the barns and practice shooting on the farm. Sam was most importantly a family man. He had been married to Glenda for almost 63 years. He was exceedingly proud of his children’s accomplishments and their families. He always had praise and love for his family. He will also be remembered as a great story teller, friend and mentor to all that knew him.
Dr. Samuel Holder is preceded in death by his parents: Samuel R. And Lucy Holder; brother: Dr. William Robert Holder; son: Samuel Rapheal Holder. He is survived by his wife, Glenda Holder of Sonora, TX; daughter: Dr. Sherrie Holder and Dr. Jeremy Gitomer of Anchorage, AK; daughter in law: Kelly Holder of Sonora, TX; grandchildren: Rachel Holder and Brad Parrish of Boerne, TX; Jarred and Laura Holder of Dripping Springs, TX; Tanner Holder and Lilly Huynh of Irving, TX; Ariel and Dane Yates of Bremerton, WA; Amara Gitomer of Winter Park, FL; Peja Gitomer of Anchorage, AK. great-granddaughters: Lucy Holder, Olivia Holder, and Teysa Yates; sister-in-law: Sarah Ragsdill of Sulphur Springs,TX; nieces: Susan and Jason French of Spartanburg, SC; Julie and Aaron Bohanon of Spring, TX; Beth and Rob Clark of Tomball, TX; Melissa Thornton of Dallas,TX; Monica and Steve Littlefield of Sulphur Springs, TX; nephew: Christopher Ragsdill of Sulphur Springs, TX.
A memorial will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in Linden, Texas. Sam will be laid to rest in the Bogata, Texas Cemetery. Flowers, memorials, or condolences may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Linden: PO Box 179 Linden, Texas 75563. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
A special thanks to all of our Linden and Sonora friends and those that are our Linden and Sonora family. Thank you to the healthcare workers that have helped Sam throughout especially Kim Fraire and Miriam Campa.
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Dr. Holder was one fine Christian and I have never known him not to return thanks to God before a meal. He was an awesome man and will leave a void in many a persons life. RIP "Doc"
Dr Holder was my dentist for some 22 years while I was growing up in Linden. He was so caring and kind and a great dentist! He will be greatly missed! Dr. Holder is home in the presence of Jesus.
Sweetest man ever.
Dr. Holder was a great man and a good Christian that was kind to all , he will be missed by many ! RIP
Ms. Glenda and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Dr. Holder was such a wonderful man and set a wonderful example for all of us. I am always telling my kids about going in for a checkup and he would start asking questions about the time he either numbed my mouth or had my mouth wide open. I would roll my eyes and he would just laugh! I always loved talking to and listening to him. He will be greatly missed!!
Our most sincere thoughts and prayers are with each of you. What a life well lived for His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May his memory bring you joy and hope in these difficult days. Love and Hugs.
Rest in peace Uncle Sam. I remember your smile most of all. I'm just amazed by all your accompliments and all that you stood for. And thank you for being my dentist my whole life. Know that your spirit lives in all that knew you. Condolences to aunt Glenda , Sherrie and the rest of family. GOD IS GOOD EVERYDAY Melissa Ann
Dr Holder was my dentist years ago. I really thought a lot of him!! Good man and dentist.
Rest in peace Uncle Sam. I remember your smile most of all. I'm just amazed by all your accompliments and all that you stood for. And thank you for being my dentist my whole life. Know that your spirit lives in all that knew you. Condolences to aunt Glenda , Sherrie and the rest of family. GOD IS GOOD EVERYDAY Melissa Ann
Doc was a good man. I spent many hours in his dentist chair as a kid and he always made me fill comfortable while there and MsH as well. He will be missed here but welcomed in Heaven by many. RIP Sir
He will be missed.
Doc was the very finest, friendliest, intelligent, witty and caring individual I’ve ever met in my life. He and Mrs. Glenda have been my very special friends and always put me 1st for the last 40 yrs. God I am going to miss him. Please comfort Mrs. Glenda, Sherrie and family at such a sad time.
Praying for the family.
Doc Holder was my dentist for several years. he had a gentle spirit and was always ready to talk and tell wonderful stories. He will be missed. My condolences to Ms. Glenda and family.
We are so saddened by the loss of this great friend. May God comfort you in this painful time. We feel so blessed to have known such a special man.
I am very saddened to learn of my Uncle Sammy’s death. He will forever be my Uncle Sam and my dad’s only sibling whom he loved very much. I am praying for my aunt Glenda and cousin Sherry as they’ve been through so much in recent months. I am so glad the Holder name lives on in Raph’s grandchildren. Love you Uncle Sam. I know you are pain free in Heaven and had so many angels welcoming you into your home in eternity.
Dr. Sam, go rest High
David & Sondra Lovelace